Two of the largest trucking companies serving California’s Port of Oakland, GSC Logistics, Inc. and California Multimodal, Inc., announced this week that all of their trucks serving the Port have already achieved compliance with the new emissions standards established through the Port’s Clean Truck Management Plan (CTMP), which will go into effect on January 1, 2010.
Both fleets are Oakland-based members of the Coalition for Responsible Transportation (CRT). According to the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the two fleets have deployed over 200 clean trucks into regular Port service, which will reduce diesel particulate matter by 85% per mile driven.
"These companies demonstrate how the trucking industry is really stepping up to meet the new environmental standards,” said Port of Oakland executive director Omar Benjamin. “These cleaner trucks will significantly reduce diesel particulate emissions and clean the air for a healthier community."
According to the announcement, over 90% of the clean trucks deployed by the two fleets have been privately financed through a support model that includes the trucking company, truck drivers and the importers and exporters who have made financial commitments to use the cleanest available trucks in the marketplace.
Both companies have instituted practices to provide assistance to finance truck replacement and retrofits for their drivers-- ranging from down payment assistance and forgiveness programs to low interest lease-to-own programs—designed to provide drivers to with a lower truck payment than they would have been able to find on their own.
"For GSC, protecting the environment is not just a company initiative, it is our responsibility as members of the community to work toward reversing the threats of pollution and climate change," said Andy Garcia, Chairman and Executive vp of GSC Logistics.
Robert A. Curry Jr., President of California Multimodal, Inc. added that, “CMI believes in the importance of the CTMP at the Port of Oakland and similar environmental plans around the country and will continue to work with the marketplace to provide clean and sustainable cost conscience solutions.”
